Dad's 65 Chevy Sportvan: Restoring My Life: History

Years ago, when I was a little girl, my dad had a customized 1965 Chevy Sportvan. It was a baby blue adventure on wheels. Our family traveled everywhere in it—all up and down the east coast. There was no mountain unclimbed, no beach unwalked, or point-of-interest unseen. But that was back then…

Van in 1970

I guess I should start in the beginning with an introduction to my baby blue adventure on wheels. From what I was told, and can remember, my dad bought the van from a traveling salesman (no kidding!) that used to live in it while on the road. The van was customized* to provide an affordable place to stay—and sometimes the only place—while he traveled throughout the Southeast (1965-1968). *[I know the van was customized by Chevy possibly using a Vista Camper Kit by Traville Corporation of Detroit, MI, because of the molded blue plexiglass windows…but I’m not positive.]

This van was special. On the inside it had driver and passenger seats separated by the motor housing. Fitted over the motor case was a 2-burner gas stove. To the right was a flush toilet covered over so it could be used as an extra seat. To the left was a sink with a water faucet and counter space. Under the sink were two storage cabinets and beside that was a small refrigerator. The rest of the van had bench seats that made into a bed, a small removable dining table, a storage cabinet on one door and a pop-out table on the other. There were also 120V outlets, wall lamps, six (screened) crank-out windows and a tile-like floor.

The most unique feature was seen best from the outside. The van had a square cupola on top that allowed you to stand up while cooking (or working on the engine). Other unique features included a little door on the side that contained a small butane tank, an electrical hookup, a “city” water hookup, and an area for filling up the reserve water tank. There was also a hose for the septic and wooden parking chocks on chains in the rear tire wells.

Mom, Uncle Ralph, & One of My Brothers (Aug 1971)

Uncle Ralph Filling-up the Water Tank (Aug 1971)

Dad & My Cousin Eddy (Late 70's)

My Sister at the Lagoon w/the Van (Early 80's)

Van as Seen From the Top of the Hunting Island Lighthouse (Late 70's ?)

Over the years, the van was modified by necessity and life. The tile-like floor was covered with linoleum, the windows got curtains and the seats got covered with fabric appropriate for the 70’s. My dad built and bolted a blue fun-fur seat to the motor case for me and my oldest brother added a large vinyl dragon sticker to the driver’s side while my other brother carved his initials in the closet door. It’d been wrecked when my dad used the van to block a Volkswagen after the driver had a heart attack. My dad saved a group of school kids that day and received police recognition for his quick actions. It’d been sufficiently used by my family and friends as we all grew up. As we traveled the road of life and lost our innocents, my blue adventure on wheels started to burn oil, constantly overheat and somewhere along the way lost its septic tank. In the end (1984), the only adventure it could provide was for the cars behind us when we flushed.

Van After Being "Rescued" From the Pen (Late 90's)

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted my dad’s blue van. It was put out to pasture (literally -- in my horse’s pen) and vandalized by my neighbor’s wayward kids. I eventually talked my dad into “selling” me the van in the spring of 2002. I was excited to bring it to Florida to begin work. I even found another 1965 Sportvan in a local junkyard for parts; I bought the whole van. With the dream of me and my dad restoring the van a little at a time together, my life changed… A year later, in the spring of 2003, my dad passed away.

Van Being Readied for the Road (2002)

Me & Dad Strapping Down the Van (2002)

Me & Dad (2002)

My Dad Doing a Final Inspection Before I Hit the Road (2002)

[This is the last time I saw my Dad]

It has taken eight years since my dad and two more friends (Beverly, 46, and Wanda, 44) to pass away for me to realize…What the Hell Am I Waiting On?

I may not know the proper names of parts or even fix things correctly. And I may just sit out in my van some days and cry. But I will get started. I will try. And maybe, just maybe, one day my blue adventure on wheels will roll out of my garage and I’ll go for a test drive with the memory of my dad…riding shotgun.